Patterson Francis and Associates Blog
Choosing Suitable Age Property Survey
Before you buy a property, it’s a great idea to have it professionally surveyed to protect your interests. There are three different types of surveys to choose from to cater for the condition of the properties you will encounter. With newer builds, the property is typically in good shape and the focus is on the valuation. A simple survey can tell you this.
If you are considering a newer property where the condition is in question, you can opt for a Home Buyer Report. This includes a survey of the property to evaluate the visible parts of the building, determine the state of repair, highlight any specialist repairs that would be needed and point out legal issues. The Report can include a valuation but not every provider will offer this.
For older and listed buildings, there are full building surveys, which can be carried out whether the property appears to be in good condition or is in a poor state. This is the most detailed report you can opt for. The surveyor will look at the visible parts of the property as well as areas that are accessible. As part of the inspection damp levels will be checked, timbers inspected and floors examined. A full assessment of all defects will be provided, complete with estimated for repair costs. Again, a valuation can be included if the provider is qualified to do so.
It is important to choose the type of survey you want based on the age and condition of each particular property. If you are planning to do work on the property, whether it is an extension or a renovation, a building survey is advisable so you have as much information as possible about the existing structure. This can shape your plans and may affect how the project turns out.
At Patterson and Francis Associates we offer clients a choice of building survey or Home Buyer Report, carried out by an experienced and knowledgeable building surveyor in the Maidenhead area. We have a great deal of experience with a variety of properties and work hard to give prospective buyers clear, detailed information about the assets they are thinking about purchasing. We have a highly trained team and follow the RICS code of practice to ensure we deliver a professional service.
Making Home Buyer Reports Understandable
It is no understatement to say that buying a home is likely to be one of the biggest decisions you make in your lifetime. Few, if any, other decisions carry the same level of financial commitment or come with the same consequences. The result of this is that buying a home is universally regarded as one of the single most stressful experiences you can go through. While there is help and support available for this, it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start. This is particularly the case when it comes to the RICS homebuyer reports we produce.
RICS is the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. As a member of this institute, we have met the very highest standards possible in our work and have gained the necessary accreditation. A RICS format homebuyer report may sound complex, but this is not the case when you are working with us. To be accepted as a RICS member, we do not only have to make sure the work is accurate, but that it can be accessed and understood by all relevant parties. When it comes to homebuyer reports, the RICS guidelines are clear. While the report must feature all relevant information about the house, it must be presented in plain English. While our work as surveyors involves terminology which is exclusive to our profession, homebuyer reports must be produced in a manner that is free of such jargon.
We agree entirely with the importance of this aspect of RICS approved homebuyer guides. The language used in them must be easy to understand, and provide clear information which is relevant to the house purchasing decision. If a report cannot be easily read and understood by the prospective homebuyer, then it has not succeeded.
We ensure that our homebuyer reports meet the criteria set out by RICS, and our team are always happy to give further assistance in regards of all our homebuyer report work. When you come to us, you can always expect to receive a report which offers all the help, information and support it was designed to. Contact us today to work with a qualified, experienced and supportive building surveyor in Slough or any of the surrounding areas.
Getting Accurate Valuable Information
Before you commit to buying a property it is wise to have it surveyed for signs of problems that could prove to be very costly to fix in the future. This will protect your interests and allow you to enter into negotiations in a much stronger position where you know as much, if not more, about the building than the owner.
There are two different types of surveys to choose between; a Home Buyer Report or a building survey. The latter is more detailed but both offer valuable insights into the condition of a property that can help you when you come to deciding on the price you are willing to pay. The one you opt for should depend on the age of the home you are looking at and the signs you see during your viewings.
A major advantage of having a survey done is that you will have some protection against unforeseen problems. If you don’t have the property looked at you have to bear all of the repair costs yourself. After a survey you can negotiate with the owner so they have to accept some or all of the cost.
On top of this the building surveyor will hold responsibility for checking the property and providing clear details in their report. The protection will be higher when you choose a survey rather than a Home Buyer Report because the surveyors conduct a more in-depth inspection. This means that if there are problems they miss in parts of the property they access you can make a claim against them.
At Patterson Francis and Associates we provide both types of survey and work very hard to ensure we provide the most detailed information for prospective buyers. Our team are fully qualified and have many years of experience to call on. Both of these facts mean you can expect a quality service from us that will protect your interests.
Whether you are buying a new property or an old build we would recommend you have a survey done. The investment can really pay off with the additional information you will receive and the protection it surveys offer. Contact us today if you are in need of a qualified building surveyor in the Reading area.
Ensuring Right Price
Selling and buying property can be a stressful business, especially if you are on a budget. At Patterson and Francis Associates based in Maidenhead, we offer extensive survey services in order to make sure that you don’t pay over the odds for a property. We can complete a Home Buyer Report or a survey to reveal a lot of information about a building before you complete the purchase.
When we conduct a building survey we highlight any signs of wall cracking and foundation defects, issues with roof coverings, check timbers for wet or dry rot, and we also advise on damp damage and pipe condensation issues. The information we provide can help you to avoid paying over the odds for a property that needs work.
We advice clients to get a comprehensive inspection like a building survey done when they are looking at older properties. These have had the most time to develop problems with years of wear and tear.
We specialise in all aspects of surveying and with us you get the comfort of working with professional surveyors committed to meeting the highest standards. An unbiased opinion is very important in our work as it allows us to offer impartial advice, recommendations and suggestions. We make sure our services fit around your requirements and provide valuable information. After inspections are finished a full report is delivered, including a list or recommendations in regards to issues that are found, how important they are and what it will cost to get the property into the correct condition.
We are a company dedicated to providing our customers with our best possible service. We believe we are the right choice for all of your surveying requirements. If you have any questions please contact us for advice. We will discuss the property you are buying with you, go over the types of survey we offer, and can provide information about the fees.
Home Buyer Reports Benefit Sellers
Your home is a house that has, we trust, come to be a place of memories, pride and love. As a consequence of this, when the time comes to sell up and move on attempting to place a value on the house can become subjective and difficult. It is in this respect that a home buyer report can be just as beneficial to the seller as it is to the buyers.
Traditionally the report has, as in fairness the name suggests, been regarded as something which is to the advantage of the buyer. It lets them know the value of the house based on a comprehensive range of considerations, related to both the property itself and the environment in which it is located. In recent times this information has proved to be valuable to sellers too, as it allows them to gain a far more objective understanding of the real term value of their property.
If you are moving and want to sell you house then an evaluation would be essential in deciding how much to sell your house for. It is important to see how much everything is worth from exterior to interior, as well as to understand how the surrounding area and other houses nearby influence the overall value.
With respect to the external and environmental factors which can affect the valuation of a property, one of the key considerations which often gets overlooked is the flooding risk. Although – thankfully – there has been a fall in instances of this happening recently, 1 in 6 homes in the UK are at risk of flooding. About 5 million people live in areas which are considered at risk of floods. We make sure this risk factor is incorporated into our reporting.
As you can see in this broad overview, a professional home buyer report is something which benefits a seller as much as a individuals making the purchase. Getting the correct value for a property in place is essential to an amicable deal being reached. We are proud to be able to help you achieve this, offering services for clients across Maidenhead.
Building Survey Needed
With extensive experience working on residential and commercial properties, we can offer a plethora of survey services all over the Maidenhead area. These include building surveys, property valuations and home buyer reports. Our service is here to ensure that you do not find yourself over-paying for repair costs or property purchases.
Surveys are an incredibly important service in our industry. They are ideal for those looking to either sell or purchase properties. This service has particular value for those who fall into the latter category, especially when they target larger, older or more run down properties due to the potential for faults being greater. We are sure that you won’t want any nasty surprises like asbestos or structural damage to ruin your opportunity. The main goal of a building survey is to help the buyers and sellers make informed decisions in regards to their property and to provide confidence that the structure is in good conditions.
At Patterson Francis and Associates you can be assured that you are working with professionals. When investigating a property we take an unbiased approach to ensure that favouritism towards the property owner or buyer is avoided. Our services can be as thorough as you wish as we offer both home buyer reports and more comprehensive building surveys.
After inspections are finished, a full report is submitted with a list of recommendations in order of importance and calculated repair costs necessary to get the structure into top shape. Every survey is done and report compiled by a trained building surveyor.
Customer satisfaction is our first priority when it comes to our work. Our team takes a very professional approach and has worked with such clients as the Prudential insurance company and HSBC bank. If you are looking to purchase or sell a property and need an idea of the current state of the property, we can provide a full range of survey services dedicated to every client’s individual needs.
